Teenage boy dies in skydiving tragedy day before 18th birthday

Teenage boy dies in skydiving tragedy day before 18th birthday

A Texas teenager has died in a skydiving accident reportedly just one day shy of his 18th birthday. Source: Getty, file

A teenage boy has died in a skydiving accident reportedly just one day shy of his 18th birthday.

The tragic jump was the first time the 17-year-old, who has not been identified, had been skydiving, police confirmed.

The boy, from Texas in the US, was diving alone rather than in tandem, attached to an instructor.

Police and fire crews arrived at a field northwest of the Fremont County Airport just after 10am Sunday, following a call from High Sky Adventures, according to a police statement.

Bystanders administered CPR until emergency crews arrived, but they could not revive the teenager.

The United States Parachute Association (USPA) requires all jumpers be at least 18 years old, but it is understood a drop zone that is not a USPA member – where affiliation is only voluntary – can permit divers at any age.

However basic safety requirements set by tandem equipment manufacturers restrict the use of their parachutes to tandem divers over 18, according to the USPA website.

Megan Richards of the sheriff’s office told CBS4 News both the teen’s main parachute and emergency chute deployed, but likely at too low an altitude to be effective.

The sheriff’s office, the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating what caused the tragedy.